Ski pant gaiter

ABSTRACT

A ski pant gaiter includes a continuous piece of material defining a tubular shaped body having opposing first and second ends. The first end has an inlet opening and the second end has an outlet opening. The first end is configured for attachment to a pant leg. The ski pant gaiter also includes an elastic member extending around the tubular shaped body at the second end. The elastic member is configured to restrict a size of the outlet opening. At least one intermediate opening is formed in the tubular shaped body at a location spaced between the first and second ends. The at least one intermediate preformed opening is configured to receive a fastening strap of a boot that extends from within the tubular shaped body to an exterior of the tubular shaped body to provide a positive attachment of the gaiter to the boot.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims the benefit of the filing date of U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/413,270, filed Nov. 12, 2010, and entitled SKI PANT GAITER, the disclosure of which is incorporated, in its entirety, by reference.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present disclosure generally relates to gaiters, and more particularly relates to gaiters for use with ski pants.

BACKGROUND

It has long been known in downhill and cross country skiing, winter mountaineering and similar outdoor situations to wear gaiters to protect the person's feet and lower legs against penetration of snow or other moisture into the person's footwear. Such gaiters are typically made of fabric that is wrapped around the lower leg and a portion of the footwear to overlap the opening into the footwear. Sometimes the gaiter is positioned overlapping a bottom portion of the user's pant leg in addition to overlapping a portion of the footwear. In other arrangements, the gaiter is secured to an inner surface of the pant leg and is covered by the pant leg.

Gaiters are connected to the footwear in different ways. In one example, the gaiter includes a hook or other fastener that connects a bottom portion of the gaiter to the sole of the footwear. In another example, the gaiter includes an elastic member at the bottom portion that restricts a size of the gaiter at the bottom portion and applies a constricting force that releasably secures the bottom portion of the gaiter to a portion of the footwear.

The bottom portion of the gaiter is usually held as far down (e.g., close to the sole) of the footwear as possible, which typically arranges the gaiter covering laces, buckles, or other tightening features of the footwear along the front, rear, or sides of the footwear. Once the gaiter is secured to the footwear and arranged for proper use, the user must disconnect the gaiter from the footwear in order to make adjustments to the footwear. Furthermore, some gaiter designs do not include a positive attachment of the gaiter to the footwear, which makes it possible for the gaiter to move relative to the footwear during use into orientations that diminish the benefits of the gaiter in protecting the user's feet and lower legs.

SUMMARY

One aspect of the present disclosure relates to a ski pant that includes a pant leg and a gaiter. The gaiter includes a first end portion attached to the pant leg, a second end portion, a sidewall defining a gaiter inner surface and a gaiter outer surface, and at least one side opening preformed through the sidewall at a position between the first and second end portions.

The at least one side opening may be configured to receive a fastener that extends from the gaiter inner surface to the gaiter outer surface. The gaiter may include first and second side openings formed in the gaiter along opposing sides of the gaiter. The gaiter may include an elastic member extending around the second end portion and configured to restrict a size of an outlet opening of the gaiter. The pant leg may include a patent leg end that extends beyond the second end portion of the gaiter. The gaiter may include a plurality of side openings through which the fastener extends. The at least one side opening may include a double welt construction. The pant leg may include an inner surface, and the first end portion of the gaiter is secured to the inner surface of the pant leg. The gaiter may be permanently attached to the pant leg. The gaiter may include a cover portion positioned on the gaiter outer surface and configured to adjustably cover the at least one side opening.

Another aspect of the present disclosure relates to a ski pant gaiter that includes a continuous piece of material defining a tubular shaped body having opposing first and second end portions. The first end portion has an inlet opening and the second end portion has an outlet opening. The first end portion is configured for attachment to a pant leg. The ski pant gaiter also includes an elastic member extending around the tubular shaped body at the second end portion. The elastic member is configured to restrict a size of the outlet opening. The ski pant gaiter may include at least one intermediate opening formed in the tubular shaped body at a location spaced between the first and second end portions. The at least one intermediate opening is configured to receive a fastening strap of a boot that extends from within the tubular shaped body to an exterior of the tubular shaped body.

The at least one intermediate opening may include a right side opening and a left side opening. The first end portion may define an upper end portion, and the second end portion may define a lower end portion, and the at least one intermediate opening is located on the lower end portion. The right side opening may be configured to receive a first strap portion of the fastening strap, and the left side opening may be configured to receive a second strap portion of the fastening strap.

A further aspect of the present disclosure relates to a method of manufacturing a ski pant. The method may include providing first and second pant legs and first and second gaiters, wherein the first and second gaiters each include first and second end portions, an elastic member positioned at the second end portion to provide an adjustable sized outlet opening, and at least one side opening configured to receive a fastener member. The method also includes positioning the first gaiter within the first pant leg, positioning the second gaiter within the second pant leg, attaching the first end portion of the first gaiter to an inner surface of the first pant leg, and attaching the first end portion of the second gaiter to an inner surface of the second pant leg.

The method may also include forming the at least one side opening in each of the first and second gaiters with a double welted construction. The at least one side opening in each of the first and second gaiters may include left and right side openings that extend from an interior to an exterior of the first and second gaiters. The attaching steps may include releasably attaching. The positioning steps may occur in any order and the attaching steps may occur in any order.

Another aspect of the present disclosure relates to a method of connecting a boot to a gaiter. The method includes providing a pant leg, a gaiter having at least one side opening, and a boot having a fastening strap. The method also includes pulling up the pant leg, attaching the gaiter to the boot by extending a portion of the fastening strap through the at least one side opening, adjusting the boot while the gaiter is attached to the boot, and pulling down the pant leg.

The step of adjusting the boot may include adjusting tension in the boot using the fastening strap. The step of adjusting the boot may include adjusting at least one tightening member of the boot accessible from outside the gaiter. The step of attaching the gaiter to the boot may include extending a first portion of the fastening strap through a left side opening of the gaiter, extending a second portion of the fastening strap through a right side opening of the gaiter, and connecting the first and second portions of the fastening strap together. The gaiter may be attached to an inner surface of the pant leg, and pulling up and pulling down the pant leg does not change a position of the gaiter relative to the boot. The gaiter may include a cover portion positioned on an outer surface of the gaiter, and the method includes adjusting the cover portion to cover the fastening strap after attaching the gaiter to the boot.

The foregoing and other features, utilities and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following more particular description of various examples as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and constitute a part of this specification, illustrate various example embodiments, and together with the description, serve to explain the principles thereof. Like items in the drawings are referred to using the same numerical reference.

FIG. 1 is a right side view of an example ski pant in use with a ski boot in accordance with the present disclosure.

FIG. 2 is a right side view of the ski pant and ski boot of FIG. 1 with a pant leg of the ski pant raised to show a gaiter of the ski pant.

FIG. 3 is a left side view of the ski pant and ski boot of FIG. 2.

FIG. 4 is a left side view of the gaiter shown in FIG. 3.

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of the gaiter shown in FIG. 4 taken along cross-section indicators 5-5.

FIG. 6 is a right side view of another example ski pant in use with a ski boot in accordance with the present disclosure.

FIG. 7 is a right side view of the ski pant and ski boot of FIG. 6 with a pant leg of the ski pant raised to show a gaiter of the ski pant.

FIG. 8 is a right side view of another example ski pant in use with a ski boot in accordance with the present disclosure with a pant leg of the ski pant raised to show a gaiter of the ski pant.

FIG. 9 is a right side view of the ski pant and ski boot of FIG. 8 with the pant leg of the ski pant raised to show the gaiter.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

One aspect of the present disclosure is directed to a gaiter that is attached or secured to a footwear (e.g., a boot) using a fastener feature of the footwear. In one example, a fastening strap positioned along an upper portion of the footwear is used to provide a positive attachment between the gaiter and the footwear. The fastener member of the footwear may be a fastening strap having opposing ends that extend from within the gaiter to an exterior surface of the gaiter. The opposing ends of the fastening strap wrap around a portion of the gaiter along its exterior surface to provide the positive attachment. In ski boot applications, the fastening strap is commonly known as a power strap. The power strap typically includes a hook and loop (e.g., Velcro) fastener system. The fastening strap is usually part of the footwear and is attached to the footwear with either a permanent or releasable connection. The gaiter may include at least one side opening through which the fastening strap of the footwear extends.

In one example, the gaiter is secured to a pant leg such as a pant leg of a pair of ski pants. The gaiter may be secured to an inner surface of the pant leg and be covered by a bottom portion of the pant leg. The gaiter may be referred to as an inner cuff of the ski pants.

Other aspects of the gaiter of the present disclosure relate to the size of the gaiter and relative positioning of the gaiter to other features of the footwear. In one example, the gaiter, when positively attached or secured to the footwear with the fastening strap, has a lower end portion that is positioned above or removed from other of the tightening features of the footwear (e.g., the tightening straps, laces, buckles, etc.). The gaiter may also include an elastic member along a lower portion of the gaiter that constricts the lower portion of the gaiter around the footwear. The elastic member can help restrict the movement of objects (e.g., water or snow) into a space between the gaiter and the footwear to keep the objects from accessing an upper opening into the footwear and contacting the tightening members.

Another aspect of the present disclosure is directed to an integral ski pant and gaiter clothing article, wherein each pant leg has a gaiter attached thereto. Another aspect of the present disclosure relates to a stand alone gaiter member for use with a footwear. Certain aspects of the gaiter, such as, for example, the holes formed in the sidewall of the gaiter through which a fastener of the footwear extends, may be integrated into other clothing articles, such as, for example, a bottom portion of a pant leg, a body suit, waders, or other protective garments.

The holes formed in the sidewall of the gaiter may be preformed during the process of making the gaiter. The holes in the sidewall of the gaiter may be referred to as preformed holes or holes that are predisposed in the sidewall of the gaiter. The holes in the sidewall of the gaiter may be formed or preformed prior to connecting the gaiter to a pant leg. The gaiter may include reinforcement around the holes in the sidewall of the gaiter to limit tearing, ripping, or other damage to the gaiter in the area of the holes. The holes in the sidewall of the gaiter may be formed, for example, by cutting using any desired cutting technique. Some cutting techniques may currently cut the material of the gaiter and seals the material from fraying around the hole.

Referring now to the figures, an example ski pant 10 having a pant leg 14 and gaiter 16 is shown attached to a boot 12 in FIGS. 1-3. FIG. 1 shows a bottom portion 20 of the pant leg covering the gaiter 16 and upper portion of the boot 12. FIGS. 2 and 3 illustrate a bottom portion of the pant leg 14 pulled up to expose the gaiter 16.

The pant leg 14 includes a bottom portion 20, an outer surface 22, an inner surface 24, and an attachment portion 26. The gaiter 16 is attached to the pant leg 14 at the attachment portion 26 along the inner surface 24. In some arrangements, the gaiter 16 is releasably attached to the pant leg 14 at the attachment portion 26 using, for example, a fastener such as a zipper, snaps, or laces. In other arrangements, the gaiter 16 is permanently attached to the pant leg 14. FIG. 1 shows the outer surface of the pant leg 14, while FIGS. 2 and 3 show the pant leg 14 pulled up to expose the gaiter 16 and the inner surface 24 of the pant leg 14.

The gaiter 16 is shown and described in further detail with reference to FIGS. 2-5. The gaiter 16 includes a generally tubular-shaped body 30 having a first or upper end portion 32 and a second or lower end portion 34 when attached to an upright boot 12 (see FIGS. 1-3). The gaiter 16 also includes first and second opposing sides 36, 38 (also referred to as right and left sides 36, 38) that are typically arranged along opposing side surfaces of the boot 12. The gaiter 16 may also include an interior 40, an exterior surface 42, an inlet or top opening 44, and an outlet or bottom opening 46. The inlet opening 44 is positioned at the first end portion 32, and the outlet opening 46 is positioned at the second end portion 34. A size of the inlet opening 44 is typically about the same size as an internal size of the pant leg 14 when the gaiter is constructed for attachment to the pant leg 14. The outlet opening 46 is typically large enough in size to extend over a portion of the boot 12.

The gaiter 16 may have a substantially continuous, tubular construction as shown in FIGS. 2-5. Alternatively, gaiter 16 may be adjustable to modify the tubular construction. In one example, gaiter 16 includes a zipper or other fastener that extends along at least a portion of the length of gaiter 16. Operating the zipper or other fastener opens up at least a portion of gaiter 16 to gain access to the interior 40. In one example, the gaiter 16 may be changed from the generally tubular shape of FIGS. 2-5 to a flat, generally rectangular configuration by operating the zipper or other fastener.

An elastic member 48 may be attached the gaiter 16 at the second end portion 34 to provide the outlet opening 46 with an adjustable size. The elastic member 48 may constrict the size of the outlet opening 46 to provide a tight or snug interface between the gaiter 16 and the boot 12 at the second end portion 34. The elastic member 48 may be stretched to increase the size of the outlet opening 46 to permit movement of the second end portion 34 of gaiter 16 onto or off of the boot 12 and to different positions along the boot 12.

The gaiter 16 may include at least one side opening defined in the tubular body 30. The side openings may be positioned along at least one of the first and second sides 36, 38. In one example, the gaiter 16 includes first and second side openings 50, 52 (also referred to as right and left side openings 50, 52) positioned along the first and second sides 36, 38, respectively, of the gaiter 16. The first and second side openings 50, 52 may be sized and arranged to permit a fastener feature (e.g., fastening strap) of the boot 12 to pass through the gaiter. The fastener feature of the boot 12 may extend from within the interior 40 through at least one of the first and second side openings 50, 52 to the exterior surface 42 of the gaiter 16. The gaiter 16 may include a double welt construction 54 associated with each of the first and second side openings 50, 52. The double welt construction 54 may help reinforce the gaiter 16 in the area of the first and second side openings 50, 52 to reduce the chance of failure (e.g., tearing or ripping) of the gaiter 16 around the first and second side openings 50, 52.

In other arrangements, the gaiter includes a sleeve (not shown) configured to receive a portion of the fastener feature of the boot 12. The sleeve may have a continuous, uninterrupted construction. The sleeve may be positioned along an interior or exterior surface of the gaiter 16. The sleeve may include sleeve openings that are aligned with and open to at least one of the first and second side openings 50, 52.

The boot 12 includes a sole 60, an upper 62, a top opening 64, a front portion 66, a rear portion 68, a plurality of adjustment or tightening members 70, and a top adjustment or tightening member 72. The boot 12 is representative of any footwear that may benefit from use with gaiter 16. The boot 12 may be, for example, a ski boot, a snowboard boot, a hiking boot, or a mountaineering boot.

The top adjustment member 72 may be referred to as a primary strap, with is often referred to in the ski boot industry as a power strap. The top adjustment member 72 may include first and second end portions 74, 76. The top adjustment member 72 may be secured to the boot 12, for example, along the rear portion 68 of the upper 62. The first and second end portions 74, 76 may connect to each other using, for example, a hook-and-loop fastener system 78 (e.g., Velcro) as shown in FIG. 2. One of the first and second end portions 74, 76 may carry a buckle or loop feature 75 (see FIG. 3) used to connect the first and second end portions 74, 76 together.

The first and second end portions 74, 76 of the top adjustment member 72 may extend through the first and second side openings 50, 52, respectively, so that portions of the top adjustment member 72 are positioned within the gaiter 16 and other portions of the top adjustment member 72 are positioned outside of the gaiter 16. The portions of the top adjustment member 72 positioned outside of the gaiter may connect to each other along the exterior surface 42 of the gaiter 16 to assist in making a positive attachment between the gaiter 16 and boot 12.

The top adjustment member 72 may be used to both tighten the boot 12 about a user's leg along the upper 62 of the boot 12 and also provide a positive connection between the gaiter 16 and boot 12. Arranging the top adjustment member 72 extending through the gaiter 16 also makes it possible to adjust the top adjustment member 72 without having to remove the gaiter 16 from covering the boot 12. The top adjustment member 72 may provide a positive attachment of the gaiter 16 to the boot 12 while making adjustments to the boot 12 and gaiter 16.

The gaiter 16 may have a size and orientation wherein the second end portion 34 is arranged vertically above or in some arrangement that exposes the plurality of adjustment members 70 of the boot 12. This arrangement for the gaiter 16 (shown in FIGS. 2 and 3) permits access to the adjustment members 70 without having to adjust a position of the gaiter 16 or remove the gaiter 16 from covering the boot 12. The adjustment members 70 may include buckles, hook-and-loop fasteners, laces, straps, or other fastening features that the user operates to adjust the boot 12. The gaiter 16 permits such access without having to adjust a position or orientation of the gaiter 16 once the gaiter 16 is positively attached to the boot 12 using the top adjustment member 72 or other fastener feature of the boot 12.

Other side opening arrangements are possible for the gaiter 16 including, for example, a single side opening or three or more side openings to accommodate different types of fastener features of the boot 12 or other footwear to which the gaiter 16 is attached. The first and second side openings 50, 52 may be positioned at other locations around the gaiter 16, such as, for example, along a front portion or rear portion of the gaiter 16, at locations that overlap or partially intersect the elastic member 48, or in a vertical arrangement relative to each other.

Other types of reinforcement structures may be used besides the double welt construction 54 shown in the figures. Different stitching, hole configurations, and materials may be used on the gaiter 16 to provide reinforcement, if desired, in the area of the first and second side openings 50, 52.

In other arrangements, the first and second side openings 50, 52 are receptive of other adjustment members, such as, for example, any of the adjustment members 70 of the boot 12 shown in FIGS. 1-3. The adjustment member that extends through the first and second side openings 50, 52 may include, for example, a lace, buckle or a strap associated with the footwear that may or may not provide the additional function of tightening the footwear. For example, the fastener of the footwear that extends through at least one of the first and second side openings 50, 52 may be included on the footwear solely for the purpose of providing a positive attachment between the gaiter 16 and footwear.

In some examples, the gaiter includes multiple elastic members 48 positioned at various locations on the tubular body 30. For example, an elastic member may be positioned along the second end portion 34 adjacent to the outlet opening 46, and at least one additional elastic member may be positioned vertically above the first and second side openings 50, 52, or axially spaced apart from the elastic member 48 in some other arrangement.

Referring now to FIGS. 6-7, another example ski pant 100 having a pant leg 14 and gaiter 116 is shown attached to a boot 12. FIG. 6 shows the bottom portion 20 of the pant leg covering the gaiter 116 and upper portion of the boot 12. FIG. 7 illustrates a bottom portion of the pant leg 14 pulled up to expose the gaiter 116.

The gaiter 116 includes a generally tubular-shaped body 130 having a first or upper end portion 132 and a second or lower end portion 134 when attached to boot 12. The gaiter 116 may include an elastic member 148 attached to the gaiter 116 at the lower end portion 134 to provide an outlet opening of the gaiter 116 with an adjustable size. The elastic member 148 may constrict the size of the outlet opening to provide a tight or snug interface between the gaiter 116 and the boot 12 at the lower end portion 134. The elastic member 148 may be stretched to increase the size of the outlet opening to permit movement of the lower end portion 134 of gaiter 116 onto or off of the boot 12 and to different positions along the boot 12.

The gaiter 116 may have a length that permits the lower end portion 134 to extend to a position lower on the boot 12 than the gaiter 16 of FIGS. 1-5, such as to a location in which gaiter 116 covers at least one of the adjustment members 70 (see FIGS. 6 and 7). The gaiter 116 may have various lengths to cover different amounts of the boot 12, such as different numbers of adjustment members 70. The gaiter 116 may comprise flexible, elastic material that permits at least some elongation of the gaiter along its length to adjust the gaiter 116 to different positions along the boot 12.

The gaiter 116 may include at least a first side opening 150 defined in the tubular body 130. The first side opening 150 may be sized and arranged to permit a fastener feature (e.g., top adjustment member 72) of the boot 12 to pass through the gaiter. The fastener feature of the boot 12 may extend from within the interior of gaiter 116 through the first side openings 150 to an exterior of the gaiter 116. The gaiter 116 may include a double welt construction 154 associated with the first side opening 150. The double welt construction 154 may help reinforce the gaiter 116 in the area of the first side opening 150 to reduce the chance of failure (e.g., tearing or ripping) of the gaiter 116. Typically, the gaiter 116 includes multiple side openings so that the top adjustment member 72 can pass out of and back into the gaiter 116 through the side openings.

The gaiter 116 may maintain a positive attachment to boot 12 using the top adjustment member 72 while the bottom end portion 134 is movable up and down relative to the boot 12 to access the tightening members 70 of boot 12.

Referring now to FIGS. 8-9, another example ski pant 200 having a pant leg 14 and gaiter 216 is shown attached to a boot 12. FIGS. 8 and 9 illustrate a bottom portion of the pant leg 14 pulled up to expose the gaiter 216. The gaiter 216 may have a construction similar to gaiter 16 described above with reference to FIGS. 1-5 and may additionally include a strap cover 280 that covers the top adjustment member 72.

The gaiter 216 includes a generally tubular-shaped body 230 having a first or upper end portion 232 and a second or lower end portion 234 when attached to boot 12. The gaiter 216 may include an elastic member 248 attached to the gaiter 216 at the second end portion 234 to provide an outlet opening of the gaiter 216 with an adjustable size. The elastic member 248 may constrict the size of the outlet opening to provide a tight or snug interface between the gaiter 216 and the boot 12 at the second end portion 234. The elastic member 248 may be stretched to increase the size of the outlet opening to permit movement of the second end portion 234 of gaiter 216 onto or off of the boot 12 and to different positions along the boot 12.

The gaiter 216 may include at least a first side opening 250 defined in the tubular body 230. The first side opening 250 may be sized and arranged to permit a fastener feature of the boot 12 to pass through the gaiter 216. The fastener feature of the boot 12 (e.g., the top adjustment member 72) may extend from within the interior of gaiter 216 through the first side openings 250 to an exterior of the gaiter 216. The gaiter 216 may include a double welt construction 254 associated with the first side opening 250. The double welt construction 254 may help reinforce the gaiter 216 in the area of the first side opening 250 to reduce the chance of failure (e.g., tearing or ripping) of the gaiter 216. Typically, the gaiter 216 includes multiple side openings so that the top adjustment member 72 can pass out of and back into the gaiter 216 through the side openings.

The strap cover 280 may be configured to cover portions of the boot 12, top adjustment member 72, and other portions of the gaiter 216 such as the first side opening 250. The strap cover 280 may limit passage of snow into the gaiter 216 through first side opening 250 and provide at least some protection of the top adjustment member 72 and associated fastener system 78.

The strap cover 280 includes a lower portion 282, an elastic portion 284, adjustment members 286A, 286B, and an upper portion 288. The lower portion 282 may define a free edge or opening that is movable relative to the top adjustment member 72. The upper portion 288 may be attached directly to the tubular body 230. The elastic portion 284 may be positioned near the lower portion 282 to provide some elastic gathering of the strap cover 280 that helps hold the lower portion 282 in an adjusted position (e.g., in the raised position shown in FIG. 8 or the covering position shown in FIG. 9).

The strap cover 280 may be adjusted between the raised and covering positions of FIGS. 8 and 9, respectively, by grasping and pulling on the adjustment members 286A, 286B. The adjustment members 286A, 286B may be sized and arranged for easy grasping by the user. The adjustment members 286A, 286B may comprise an elastic material. The adjustment members 286A, 286B may include a loop construction. Other portions of the strap cover 280 may comprise, for example, a nylon taffeta material. In some arrangements, the strap cover 280 may comprise the same material as the tubular body 230. The strap cover 280 may be used with any of the gaiter embodiments disclosed herein.

The gaiter features disclosed herein may be implemented in a stand alone gaiter member that is not attached to a pant leg. For example, a gaiter having at least one side opening may be attached at one end to a footwear using an existing fastener of the footwear, and an upper end of the gaiter may be secure to the user separately from a pant leg (e.g., using an elastic member at the upper end of the gaiter, or a fastener that separately secures the upper end of the gaiter to another article of clothing of the user).

While the invention has been particularly shown and described with reference to embodiments thereof, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various other changes in the form and details may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. 

1. A ski pant, comprising: a pant leg; a gaiter comprising: a first end portion attached to the pant leg; a second end portion; a sidewall defining a gaiter inner surface and a gaiter outer surface; at least one side opening preformed through the sidewall at a position between the first and second end portions.
 2. The ski pant of claim 1, wherein the at least one side opening is configured to receive a fastener that extends from the gaiter inner surface to the gaiter outer surface.
 3. The ski pant of claim 1, wherein the gaiter includes first and second side openings defined in the gaiter along opposing sides of the gaiter.
 4. The ski pant of claim 1, wherein the gaiter includes an elastic member extending around the second end portion and configured to restrict a size of an outlet opening of the gaiter.
 5. The ski pant of claim 1, wherein the pant leg includes a patent leg end that extends distally beyond the second end portion of the gaiter.
 6. The ski pant of claim 2, wherein the gaiter includes a plurality of side openings through which the fastener extends.
 7. The ski pant of claim 1, wherein the at least one side opening includes a double welt construction.
 8. The ski pant of claim 1, wherein the pant leg includes an inner surface, and the first end portion of the gaiter is secured to the inner surface of the pant leg.
 9. The ski pant of claim 1, wherein the gaiter is permanently attached to the pant leg.
 10. The ski pant of claim 1, wherein the gaiter further comprises a cover portion positioned on the gaiter outer surface and configured to adjustably cover the at least one side opening.
 11. A ski pant gaiter, comprising: a continuous piece of material defining a tubular shaped body having opposing first and second end portions, the first end portion having an inlet opening, and the second end portion having an outlet opening, the first end portion being configured for attachment to a pant leg; an elastic member extending around the tubular shaped body at the second end portion, the elastic member configured to restrict a size of the outlet opening; at least one intermediate opening formed in the tubular shaped body at a location spaced between the first and second end portions, the at least one intermediate opening being configured to receive a fastening strap of a boot that extends from within the tubular shaped body to an exterior of the tubular shaped body.
 12. The ski pant gaiter of claim 11, wherein the at least one intermediate opening includes a right side opening and a left side opening.
 13. The ski pant gaiter of claim 11, wherein the first end portion defines an upper end portion, and the second end portion defines a lower end portion, and the at least one intermediate opening is located in the lower end portion.
 14. The ski pant gaiter of claim 12, wherein the right side opening is configured to receive a first strap portion of the fastening strap, and the left side opening is configured to receive a second strap portion of the fastening strap.
 15. A method of manufacturing a ski pant, the method comprising: providing first and second pant legs and first and second gaiters, the first and second gaiters each comprising first and second end portions, an elastic member positioned at the second end portion to provide an adjustable sized outlet opening, and at least one side opening configured to receive a fastener member; positioning the first gaiter within the first pant leg; positioning the second gaiter within the second pant leg; attaching the first end portion of the first gaiter to an inner surface of the first pant leg; attaching the first end portion of the second gaiter to an inner surface of the second pant leg.
 16. The method of claim 15, further comprising forming the at least one side opening in each of the first and second gaiters with a double welted construction.
 17. The method of claim 15, wherein the at least one side opening in each of the first and second gaiters includes left and right side openings that extend from an interior to an exterior of the first and second gaiters.
 18. The method of claim 15, wherein the attaching steps include releasably attaching.
 19. A method of connecting a boot to a gaiter, the method comprising: providing a pant leg, a gaiter having at least one side opening, and a boot having a fastening strap; pulling up the pant leg; attaching the gaiter to the boot by extending a portion of the fastening strap through the at least one side opening; adjusting the boot while the gaiter is attached to the boot; pulling down the pant leg.
 20. The method of claim 19, wherein adjusting the boot includes adjusting tension in the boot using the fastening strap.
 21. The method of claim 19, wherein adjusting the boot includes adjusting at least one tightening member of the boot accessible from outside the gaiter.
 22. The method of claim 19, wherein attaching the gaiter to the boot includes extending a first portion of the fastening strap through a left side opening of the gaiter, extending a second portion of the fastening strap through a right side opening of the gaiter, and connecting the first and second portions of the fastening strap together.
 23. The method of claim 19, wherein the gaiter is attached to an inner surface of the pant leg, and pulling up and pulling down the pant leg does not change a position of the gaiter relative to the boot.
 24. The method of claim 19, wherein the gaiter includes a cover portion positioned on an outer surface of the gaiter, the method comprising adjusting the cover portion to cover the fastening strap after attaching the gaiter to the boot. 